The Windham High boys basketball team rebounded from a loss to top-ranked Thornton Academy last Saturday with a 54-45 win over Noble on Tuesday. The Eagles led the Knights 23-21 at the half and they held off Noble in the second half with solid play at both ends of the floor.
Travis Guerrette and Jon Sangillo led Windham with 14 points each. Andy Brix added 10 points and Garrett Clemmer contributed nine for the 7-6 Eagles.
In Saco last Saturday evening, it was Thornton Academy shutting down the Eagles in the second half for a 65-46 win at Linnell Gymnasium.
Windham had every intention of pulling off the upset over the Trojans as they opened the game with a pair of baskets and a 4-0 lead. But Thornton responded with baskets from Kory Martin and Jeff Winnie. When James Morse made one of two foul shots, the Trojans had their first lead of the game at 5-4.
The Eagles regained the lead with two straight baskets from sophomore guard Jon Sangillo for an 8-5 advantage before Thornton tried to take control of the contest. A three-pointer from John Trull and two quick baskets from Morse and Trull gave the Trojans a bit of breathing room.
But the Eagles ran with the Trojans all night and they played a physical game under the boards. They looked to stay within striking distance thanks to some big three-pointers from Travis Guerrette and Jackson Taylor that gave the visitors a 14-13 lead with under three minutes to play in the first.
Another bucket from Morse and a steal and a lay-up from Austin Gregory sent the Trojans to the second quarter with an 18-15 edge.
The strong inside-out game of the Trojans took over in the second period. Point guard Jeff Winnie had a couple steals that led to a pair of easy baskets and center Kory Martin dominated play under the boards with six points in the last three minutes of the half to give Thornton a 36-28 lead at the half.
Windham had a pair of baskets from Nate Dixon in that second quarter and Ryan MacQueston contributed with five points as well.
The Trojans seized the momentum and dominated play in the third quarter with a strong effort at the defensive end. Thornton smothered the Windham offense and did not allow a field goal in those eight minutes of play. The Eagles managed just three free throws as the Trojans expanded their lead to 53-31 entering the final period.
Sangillo and Nate Dixon led the Eagles with nine points apiece. And Guerrette and MacQueston both chipped in with seven points.
Martin led the way for Thornton with 17 points. Trull added a quiet 11 and Morse chipped in with 10. Winnie and Guerin both contributed nine points to the Thornton scoring column.
Windham is the ninth-ranked team in the most recent West A Heal Point standings released on Tuesday morning. (The top 11 teams qualify for the post-season tournament.) The Eagles are scheduled to host Sanford on Friday and then head over to Bonny Eagle for a game on Tuesday evening.
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